Cancer may influence how you feel about your body and what you like. You may repair intimacy through self-reflection, physical intervention, communication, and patience.
After a breast cancer diagnosis, sex is probably the last thing on your mind. Instead, you probably consider chemotherapy side effects, treatment expenses, surgical options, and cancer charges.
After breast cancer, here are six ways to regain intimacy.
Identify The Root Of Your Sexual & Intimacy Challenges
Everyone reacts differently to cancer therapy. Sexuality can be most affected by ovarian suppression medicine and long-term hormone-blocking treatment.
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Medical menopause may result from both medications' ovarian and estrogen suppression. Vaginal dryness, uncomfortable interaction, and a loss of sexual desire are adverse symptoms of medical menopause.
Intimacy and sexuality issues are often blamed on women, which is unfair. To repair relationships and promote sexual health, there has to be an understanding of the core causes.
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Identify Interventions & Resources To Address Your Physical Needs
Many physicians aren't equipped to diagnose or manage the sexual side effects of cancer therapy. Still, fantastic survivor networks and sexual health activists can assist. Even if your oncologist isn't a specialist, they can help.
You may raise sexual health and intimacy problems and seek help. It's uncomfortable, but you're not alone. Start by talking to your doctor. Gynecological discomfort and pelvic floor specialists might be referred.
Pelvic floor treatment may also reduce pain and increase intimacy in breast cancer survivors. Oncologists may prescribe estrogen creams or laser therapy for vaginal pain alleviation. When seeking a referral, pelvic floor treatment may be covered by insurance.
Physical pain is the first obstacle to repairing the connection. With your provider, you'll uncover resources and interventions to meet your physical requirements. Keep in mind that everyone's experience is different.
Move Beyond Physical Healing
Your body image might be affected by cancer diagnosis and treatment. Intimacy with your spouse or yourself may be impacted. The difficulty might seem overwhelming when the sex drive is lacking.
How do you heal mentally? Work with a therapist to understand how cancer has affected your body image and relationships. Rebuilding confidence and self-love behaviors are crucial.
Get To Know Yourself Again
Due to cancer, your body has altered. Changes in your body and hormones might affect how you feel.
Arousal and nurturing may be different today. Reconnect with yourself. This may be done via self-exploration, hot yoga, lengthy baths, massage, or anything else that helps you reconnect with your body. Feeling betrayed by your body and upset that cancer robbed portions of your closeness is natural.
After a mastectomy, recognize your loss and then try new things. Take advantage of this change to explore new pleasures alone or with a companion. Try new things like role-playing, sex toys, and personal massages.
RELATED: Sex Therapy: Making a Path For Greater Intimacy
Make Time To Communicate (With Yourself Or Your Partner)
It's easy to isolate while suffering. Avoiding physical and mental suffering, we shun intimacy. However, delaying it might worsen the condition physically and relationally.
Discuss your issues with your spouse. Talk when there is no expectation of intimacy. Communication, albeit awkward, is vital. Your companion should help you handle side effects.
Learn together. Communication will keep you connected to your spouse while you explore various treatments and techniques. Spouses may not know how to assist while you're in recovery. They may not want to harm you or may not know how to be personal with your body changes. Discussing this with your spouse will unite you.
Single? Before dating, you need to have an intimate connection with yourself. Talk to yourself and reflect.
Show Yourself Grace
After breast cancer treatment, intimacy can take some time to re-establish. Give yourself a break.
Remember that simply by prioritizing sexual health and intimacy; you're making progress. Treat yourself like you would your best friend.
You Are Not Alone
After cancer, sex, and intimacy may be difficult. Rebuilding intimacy and a satisfying sex life after cancer requires awareness, physical intervention, communication, and patience. Keep trying.
